The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-05-08
THE STAKE MEETINGS.
The Special Conference Held
Yesterday.
THE NEW HOME MISSIONARIES.
Report of the T irec:ors of the Church
Association of the Salt Lake
Stakeholder Business.

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Lake Stake, which commenced yester
day morning in the Assembly Hall
brought in numerous people from The
surrounding villages, and the promin
ent streets after and between the hour:
of worship. presented an appearance
closely akin to that of years gone by
when the semi annual conferences as,
sembled here.
Upon the stand were President
Abram H. Cannon, of the Presidency
of the Seventies; Bishop John r
Wlnder, of the Presiding Bishopric
President Angus NJ. Cannon, of the
Presidency of the Stake; President
Elias Morris, of the High Priests
Quorum and others.
Meeting was called to order by Presi-
dent Angus M. Cannon. and after the
usual opening exercises, which included
priesthood meeting, and the statistical
report of the stake,
PRESIDENT A. N. CANNON
addressed the congregation. He was
pleased to see so large an attendance of
the Saints before him. l. had been two
years and five days since a Conference
had been held in this Stake of Zion. He
spoke of the character of the times
through which the Church was passing,
which were designed for the develop
ment of the Saints. God had not for
saken His people. Our leaders were not
permitted to be present to counsel US.
orally, but the Spirit of God, which it
was the privilege of the pure in heart to
enjoy, was present, aud it would lead
and guide into all truth. We have no
reason to be discouraged because we
are ostracised by the world. We are
not to suppose, either, that our actions
are not recorded for or against US, be-
cause we are not called to account for
every act on earth. The angels are
taking notes OF all we say and do, and
the authorities of the Church know
are aware. Every soul will be weighed
in the balance, and God will feel our
heart strings and test our integrity In
all things. To him that overcometh
will be given to sit down upon Gods
throne. Job was a bright example of
patience. and integrity, and the Lord
rejoiced in his faithfulnesS. Jesus did
not seek to do His own will, but the
will of his Father in ali things. We are
left, more or less, to ourselves, as they
were, to see whether we will stand
true, or turn like the dog to its vomit
and the SOW to its walloNing in the
mire. We might pass by our bishops
and other authorities on earth, but we
cannot pass by the Angels and
Gods who guard the heavenly
gates, unless our hearts are
pure and our actions correspond
with our professions. We dill not come
out of the world to follow after the
ways of Raby on, and tie sacrifice of
earthly things for heavenly blessings
was required at our hands. The spirit
God was sufficient to inspire US and
sustain Us to endure all things tor
Chris s sake. 1t was not the man who
was most outspot en- in defe; Sc o. the
principles of the gospel that woul be
most liable to stand, if that was all he
did, but it was tie man who lived up to
those sacred prin.iples and acquired
the necessary strength to endure. In
the matter of selling inheritances for
mo -.ey, as soma were doing, MAJ
as we'll as himself. How would he an
sWer tor the souls of h brothers. chill
dren, cor upted by contact with the
wicked, who might thus become,
t rough no fault of their own parents,
the associates of those who would lead
them away and destroy them. There
W re such characters in our midst, and
they were 10 be guarded against by all
means.
ELDER JOHN T. CAILE
was the next speaker. Thi was time
for all men to be persuaded in their own
minds, and to know, as all might know
by the Holy Spirit, their duty under all
circumstances, without asking counsel
of anyone. This is our right, though it
might also be needful at times to ask
advice from those who were wiser than
ourselves. We were not passing through
anything shat was not intended for our
good, and the present was to prepare US
for future things. We have be.n told
that all that can be will be shaken. Our
Gods people in all ages. They
were prosecuted in the name of law
as we are. If our political rights are
taken away our religious liberties are
no more. Paul exhorted the saints in
mis- day to hold fast to that liberty with
which Christ had made them free, and
be not again enLangled with the yoke
of bondage. A great effort had been
made for years to bring this people
into bondage. Special legislation
framed on purpose to entrap them had
been enacted in spite of the guarantees
Of the Constitution and the fundamen-
tal principles OF our government. These
special laws, severe as they were, were
not harsh enough to suit certain local
conspirators, who hoped BY strained
and unwarrantable constructions 10
accomplish the objects they desired.
The intention of Congress and the con-
structions often put upon acts of Con-
gress by the local courts and other
parties were two different things en-
tlrely. He had been assured by mem
bers OF Congress that the test-oath con-
tanned in tie Edmunds- Tucker Law
could not be made to apply to mans
belief, although such an application
was now attempted by those who at
tecred to be so exercised about the
Mormon conscience These men rad
pretended, for years, that all they
wanted was for tie Mormon people to
be loyal and agree to OBEY tue laws.
and now they were fearful of the Nor
mons doing the very thing they pre-